Denotation vs' Connotation

1
Denotation vs. Connotation

• A quick look at the literal and figurative
  meaning of words.

2
Denotation is the literal meaning of a word, the
dictionary meaning, a direct specific meaning as
distinct from an implied or associated idea.
3
Example of denotationThe word rest means the
refreshing quiet or repose of sleep a good
night's rest.
4
Connotation is the implied meaning of a word, or
the suggesting of a meaning by a word apart from
the thing it explicitly names.
5
Example of connotationGood night, sweet
prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy
rest (burial).
6
2nd Example of denotationThe word chill means
cold. The denotation of the word chill is cold.
7
2nd Example of connotationThe expression
lets chill is an example of the connotation of
the word chill, which means something other than
cold, as in spending time.
8
More on denotation and connotation
9
The distinction between connotation and
denotation is commonly associated with the
philosopher John Stuart Mill, though it is much
older.
10
It is intended to reflect the different ways in
which a common name may be significant.
11
The connotation of the name is the attribute or
attributes implied by the name.
12
The denotation of the name is any object to which
the name applies.
13
For example, the word "city" connotes the
attributes of largeness, populousness.
14
It denotes individual objects such as London, New
York, Paris.
15
It should not to be confused (though it often is)
with the distinction between sense and reference,
though it has some affinity with his distinction
between concept and object.
16
Contemporary philosophers employ the terms
intension and extension for connotation and
denotation respectively.
17
Mill's definition of the term "connotation" is
altogether different from that used by scholastic
logicians.
18
In scholastic logic, a "connotative" term was
originally what would now be called an adjective,
"signifying an attribute as qualifying a subject."
19
For example, "brave", as used to say or imply of
some particular person that they are brave.
20
By contrast, the abstract noun "bravery" was
thought to signify something independent of the
subject, an "independent entity", thus is
non-connotative.
21
The distinction is connected with the
metaphysical one between substance and attribute.
22
LinguisticsThere is a related distinction in
linguistics between the objective meaning or
denotation of a word such as "vulgar," and the
positive or negative association or connotation
we attach to such a word.
23
"Vulgar" derives from the Latin word for "common"
and literally means ubiquitous, found everywhere,
and was its original meaning.
24
The word has now acquired the negative
connotation of "gross" or "crudely obscene" (also
of showy ostentatiousness).
25
The process of acquiring a negative connotation
is known as pejoration.
26
Connotations often give insight into the
associations of the real usage of a word.
27
When we seek to understand the connotative
meaning of words we dig deeper into the original
meaning (denotative) of words and phrases.
28
Let us look at a student example
29
These jeans are tight.Meaning that the jeans
fit snuggly, is an example of the denotative
meaning of the word tight.
30
That skateboard is tight.Same word, tight,
different meaning. Here the connotative meaning
of the word tight is cool.
31
Let us look at another student example
32
The sky is blue.Here the word blue is used to
reflect the denotative meaning of the word or its
color.
33
My cousin is blue and on anti-depressants.Sam
e word, blue, different meaning. Here the
connotative meaning of the word blue is
depressed.
34
Now let us look at some sample questions about
denotation vs. connotation
35
Sample 1Just take a look at some of the famous
tattoo canvases.
36
Sample 1Which of the following best expresses
the denotation of the underlined word
canvases? gtgt
37
Sample 1A. walking works of artB. victims of
a fashion crazeC. objects to be used for
advertisingD. cloth surfaces for painting
38
Sample 1A. walking works of artB. victims of
a fashion crazeC. objects to be used for
advertisingD. cloth surfaces for painting
39
Let us look at another sample
40
Sample 2 and Whoopi Goldberg sports Woodstock
from Peanuts on her skin.
41
Sample 2The author probably uses the word
sports instead of the word wears because sports
has gtgt
42
Sample 2A. a more positive connotationB. a
neutral connotationC. a different denotationD.
a more negative connotation
43
Sample 2A. a more positive connotationB. a
neutral connotationC. a different denotationD.
a more negative connotation
44
Thanks to LAUSDs Board of Education and the
2005 Periodic Assessment for Expository Essays